My granddaughter's fastpitch team is playing against Bryan Bickell’s daughter’s team. I was going to go over and say hi but he’s surrounded by a bunch of people and it’s obvious he’s trying to ignore them to watch his daughter. He looks pretty good although it appeared that he was limping as he walked from the parking lot to the diamonds.

An offer sheet for Miller would have been a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd. Rangers got a 1st, a 2nd, and Morrow (equal to a 3rd?)
- wizardofi

Yes, if indeed he was worth an offer sheet of $7.5M, the guy serves more pizzas than Papa John’s.

Yes, if indeed he was worth an offer sheet of $7.5M, the guy serves more pizzas than Papa John’s.
- Angotti

If any team could turn him into a proper defenseman, it would be Carolina

If any team could turn him into a proper defenseman, it would be Carolina
- wizardofi

Yes, I agree and he will be surrounded by a better cast. I still think that they overpaid to acquire him, as well as in contract.

If any team could turn him into a proper defenseman, it would be Carolina
- wizardofi

I kind of don't understand why they traded Miller and signed Gavrikov who really isn't much better, and 4 to 5 years older. On top of it getting 30 even strength points last 2 years.

I kind of don't understand why they traded Miller and signed Gavrikov who really isn't much better, and 4 to 5 years older. On top of it getting 30 even strength points last 2 years.
- BetweenTheDots

NYR does some odd things. Drury is not a good GM

Nick Leddy is on waivers, git er done KD!

I think that there will be an actual competition for the Hawk major league roster.
Sure, Louis Crevier probably sticks as the 7th b/c he will not pass through waivers. And I am not so sure after Murphy, Vlasic, Rinzel, that those other three slots will be interchangeable if the players asked to fill the final three. I guess Kaiser is safe now, and I am going to say Ethan Del Mastro will get a first look, and be may Nolan Allan over any one else.
There was one game last year, Hawks were own by one, and in the last ten minutes there were a couple shifts were Del Mastro and the 4 guys he was out there with seemed to clicking at such a high level, and willing a goal. It didn’t happen but it was clear that I couldn’t sell Del Mastro short as a high end hockey smart attacker as well as a kid that used his size.
I am really hoping that Arty and KK get more Rockford time to continue building their games. KK needs more girth too, and Arty needs to more understanding of situations, eg., knowing when to hold his place and when not to impulsively gallop out of it and make a bad judgement that aids the attacking opposition.
I just think Greene may also make this team out of the gate. I think there will be lots of occasions when the parent clubs guys are gonna has little injuries that pave way for the farm guys to be called up.
I think Dach improved his feet and game before he was injured and kinda knows his role now. He’ll probably have a chance to start with the big club too. And I feel like Landon Slaggert continues understand his role and these two may have to win places with the Burahovsky addition.
Already excited at how the competition in the exhibitions is going determine the line-up for game one.
Even though Paul's granddaughter is older than mine, I am having trouble thinking Lardis has enough strength and endurance to skate in the nHL yet w/o more compete away from the puck. We will see.

Where does Savoi fit in? Or is he a permanent fixture in the Rock?

Where does Savoi fit in? Or is he a permanent fixture in the Rock?
- bjphawkfan

I firmly believe there are kids from Rfd last year team who want to play well enough in camp to make the Hawks out the gate too, including a certain undersized Denver College centre.

I firmly believe there are kids from Rfd last year team who want to play well enough in camp to make the Hawks out the gate too, including a certain undersized Denver College centre.
- wiz1901

My belief is once they get in camp, starting this year and moving forward, you're going to see the guys on the ice and its going to become more and more evident that the young guys are going to show you a fast paced game, and are going to make the vets look slower and slower every day.

Vets are going to have a hard time holding these guys back.

TT and Bertuzzi after the trade deadline, will be the only ones left, maybe Murphy.

And when that happens, and people see the product on the ice (whether winning or not) all the people female doging about not signing a FA to play with Bedard (of which there wasn't one) will be happy they didn't.

Let the kids play!

My belief is once they get in camp, starting this year and moving forward, you're going to see the guys on the ice and its going to become more and more evident that the young guys are going to show you a fast paced game, and are going to make the vets look slower and slower every day.

Vets are going to have a hard time holding these guys back.

TT and Bertuzzi after the trade deadline, will be the only ones left, maybe Murphy.

And when that happens, and people see the product on the ice (whether winning or not) all the people female doging about not signing a FA to play with Bedard (of which there wasn't one) will be happy they didn't.

Let the kids play!
- vabeachbear

Amen! And if TT, Bertuzzi, and Murph are the only vets left after the TDL, I’m more than okay with that. The only other vet I would not mind keeping around for the right price is Mikheyev.
Edit- forgot Donato

My belief is once they get in camp, starting this year and moving forward, you're going to see the guys on the ice and its going to become more and more evident that the young guys are going to show you a fast paced game, and are going to make the vets look slower and slower every day.

Vets are going to have a hard time holding these guys back.

TT and Bertuzzi after the trade deadline, will be the only ones left, maybe Murphy.

And when that happens, and people see the product on the ice (whether winning or not) all the people female doging about not signing a FA to play with Bedard (of which there wasn't one) will be happy they didn't.

Let the kids play!
- vabeachbear

Most of the kids are certainly faster than the vets. The issue is playing that fast. There are too many Stahlbergs, and Athanasious through history to ignore. I think the Hawks kids are mostly smart players, but it's gotta be shown on the ice.

Most of the kids are certainly faster than the vets. The issue is playing that fast. There are too many Stahlbergs, and Athanasious through history to ignore. I think the Hawks kids are mostly smart players, but it's gotta be shown on the ice.
- Chunk

No doubt, but both those players I've never felt like when the puck was not on their stick they used their speed to disrupt things even when it was on their stick they were for the most part bad, hahaha.

Aiden Thompson for example can skate, a bit on the smaller side but tenacious, handle the puck, and he's just one example of many of these kids.

I guess i missed that last line you wrote, but i agree with that as well.

No doubt, but both those players I've never felt like when the puck was not on their stick they were bad even when it was on their stick they were for the most part bad, hahaha.

Aiden Thompson for example can skate, a bit on the smaller side but tenacious, handle the puck, and he's just one example of many of these kids.

I guess i missed that last line you wrote, but i agree with that as well.
- BetweenTheDots

As much as I yell at my keyboard when replying to some of your posts, we agree on a lot of things.


I'm bullish on a high number of Hawks prospects. I'm excited to see them start to fill out the roster in the coming years. KD's going to have a big chore on his hands about which guys fit and which ones are extra. I'm certain he will make moves that many think are mistakes, but that's what he signed up for.

What I'm hoping for is that they are able to usher in a good number of high performing kids and also move others for future high end draft capital. That is where Stan (and most other GM's) poop the bed. They mortgage the entire future to win. I want my GM to do the same, but with the sheer volume of prospects they have he should be able to mitigate and manage that issue going forward.

Just read the lengtht article from Powers.
A few people seem to think that he is basically a Hocks front office mouth piece.

He added an interesting line about Frondell:

More young players will join that mix, too. It wouldn’t be shocking if Anton Frondell can earn a spot out of training camp and stick with the Blackhawks this season. Nick Lardis may not break camp in the NHL, but he could be in Chicago by the season’s end. Sacha Boisvert could easily sign out of college and end the season in the NHL. By the 2026-27 season, Roman Kantserov will likely be in the NHL after coming over from Russia. And you never know what could happen if Chicago gets another top-five draft pick in 2026.

Sounds like the front office is going to give Frondell every opportunity to make the team in training camp.
Should we assume that he is going to either start the year in the NHL,be sent after 10 games or so to the SHL,and then make his way back after his SHL season is over?
Or is it more realistic for him to start in the SHL and possibly come over for the last 10-15 games when his season is over in Sweden?

I don't recall any prospect(for any team) starting the season in the NHL,going back to Europe,and then coming back at the end of the season,but I might be totally off on that.

Just read the lengtht article from Powers.
A few people seem to think that he is basically a Hocks front office mouth piece.

He added an interesting line about Frondell:

More young players will join that mix, too. It wouldn’t be shocking if Anton Frondell can earn a spot out of training camp and stick with the Blackhawks this season. Nick Lardis may not break camp in the NHL, but he could be in Chicago by the season’s end. Sacha Boisvert could easily sign out of college and end the season in the NHL. By the 2026-27 season, Roman Kantserov will likely be in the NHL after coming over from Russia. And you never know what could happen if Chicago gets another top-five draft pick in 2026.

Sounds like the front office is going to give Frondell every opportunity to make the team in training camp.
Should we assume that he is going to either start the year in the NHL,be sent after 10 games or so to the SHL,and then make his way back after his SHL season is over?
Or is it more realistic for him to start in the SHL and possibly come over for the last 10-15 games when his season is over in Sweden?

I don't recall any prospect(for any team) starting the season in the NHL,going back to Europe,and then coming back at the end of the season,but I might be totally off on that.
- captainserious

I don't think he is. I know when they asked KD about Frondell he plans on Frondell going back to Europe but he did say like any of our prospects he will be given an opportunity to make the team.

I just think Powers is a Hawks fan who happens to write for them.

I've made it known here i really like Frondell, I'm okay either way and think he probably would be better off with another year in Europe since he's a younger prospect. Unlike others here i see a lot of upside with him.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?

I don't think he is. I know when they asked KD about Frondell he plans on Frondell going back to Europe but he did say like any of our prospects he will be given an opportunity to make the team.

I just think Powers is a Hawks fan who happens to write for them.

I've made it known here i really like Frondell, I'm okay either way and think he probably would be better off with another year in Europe since he's a younger prospect. Unlike others here i see a lot of upside with him.
- BetweenTheDots

He's not. He's from FLA. He's a Reds and Spurs fan. He's just covered the Hawks (and NHL) for the last 15 years.

EDIT: Who here doesn't like Frondell? Maybe I've lost a few days memory, but most or all of what I've read has been really positive about him.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?
- paulr

I wouldn't hate it, but he rode a 17% shooting percentage last year. All things equal, I'd prefer Rust (even though a couple years older). This makes sense. If Robertson is actually available (there are some reports that Dallas doesn't think they'll be able to sign him), I'd package a top 5 or 10 protected 1st next year with other assets to get him.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?
- paulr

Rakell scored a bunch last season (81-35-35-70) after a down year the year before. Might be the temporary 2C and then Nazar could be 1RW for this year. 32 yo with 3 more years on his contract but should be movable if it came to that.

Seems like PIT could get a little more than that for him, but still could be a good trade. From Sweden so could help with Frondell adjusting to NA.

As much as I yell at my keyboard when replying to some of your posts, we agree on a lot of things.


I'm bullish on a high number of Hawks prospects. I'm excited to see them start to fill out the roster in the coming years. KD's going to have a big chore on his hands about which guys fit and which ones are extra. I'm certain he will make moves that many think are mistakes, but that's what he signed up for.

What I'm hoping for is that they are able to usher in a good number of high performing kids and also move others for future high end draft capital. That is where Stan (and most other GM's) poop the bed. They mortgage the entire future to win. I want my GM to do the same, but with the sheer volume of prospects they have he should be able to mitigate and manage that issue going forward.
- Chunk

I think we both want the same thing the Blackhawks to be a dominant team. We both see it happening in different ways which is fine and sometimes the same way.

I am hoping that they mirror what the Oklahoma City Thunder built. I think that's what Jerry Krause wanted to do but he sucked at drafting.

I'm very intrigued at the prospect pool, because at one point i said what if they figured something out in their approach to drafting kids, looking back to 2020 they've made some really nice picks. As anything in life you make some tweaks about how to look at things and you get better at it.

Time will tell but i really like a lot of the players they have in the system. Agree with Mohel and Byron Bader you need stars to win the Cup and Bader has a sheet and typically the team that wins the Cup has more stars on it than the other team. The number is usually 5 to 6. So Bedard, maybe Rinzel for now? Possible stars Frondell, Nazar, Arty, Knight, Moore, KK, just to make a few. A ways to go but I think they'll have so much talent they'll be able to trade for what they need in the future.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?
- paulr

That deal doesn't make much sense for the Blackhawks, i don't think getting one of our dmen will be that cheap for any team, especially EDM

He's not. He's from FLA. He's a Reds and Spurs fan. He's just covered the Hawks (and NHL) for the last 15 years.

EDIT: Who here doesn't like Frondell? Maybe I've lost a few days memory, but most or all of what I've read has been really positive about him.
- Chunk

Rico and i thought a few others.

I heard a rumor on the FAN this morning, Pittsburgh sends Richard Rackell to Chicago for Reichel, Del Mastro and a sixth round pick in 2026. It seems pretty detailed for just a random rumour, but who knows?
- paulr

Except they just traded their 2026 6th for Lafferty.

SJS are now over the salary cap floor by signing Orlov and claiming Nick Leddy off waivers.